Video Shows Man Safely Scale Down Side Of Philadelphia High-Rise After Reports Of Fire

(CBS Philly) July 18 2019 11:15 pm PHILADELPHIA A report of a fire in a trash chute at a Philadelphia high-rise was followed by a dramatic scene that played out high above ground. Chopper 3 was there as a man scaled down the side of the 19-story building on the 4400 block of Holden Street in West Powelton. The man climbed down with a crowd of onlookers firefighters and police watching from below. There did not appear to be any significant smoke or flames at the time. It turns out that the cause was from a trash fire which sent flames through trash chutes and spread smoke to the floors and hallways. The fire at the Holden Tower started around 9:30 p.m. Thursday. SEPTA buses were on location and we put some of the evacuees on the buses where the air conditioning was on in the buses so SEPTA helped us out" said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. There was a recreation center in a nearby building that had air conditioning to house individuals that were temporarily evacuated." Everyone was allowed back into the building Friday morning. Officials say four people were taken to the hospital and were treated for smoke inhalation. Police say three officers were also taken to the hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation and were released.